HEART STOPPING is the fourth book in L.P. Maxa's
paranormal St.
Leasing series centered on a pack of
shifters and their school. I read this book and enjoyed
it without having read the previous books, but I think
most readers will enjoy HEART STOPPING more if they read
this series in order. Several storylines get resolved in
HEART STOPPING. The focus in this particular story is on
Baze Carter and the unexpected appearance of his long-
lost love Penelope Sutton. L.P. Maxa throws in just
enough flashbacks to give the reader a flavor of what
their relationship and feelings for each other were like,
without smothering the reader in nostalgia. Over the
course of HEART STOPPING, the good guys plot to thwart
the super villain as Baze and Pen struggle to reconnect
and fall in love all over again.

Pack dynamics play a big part in HEART STOPPING, as Pen
is able to share her knowledge with a pack that is
surprisingly ignorant about such things. The St. Leasing
werewolves are a great family, but Pen's info puts a lot
of things they've been experiencing in context for them.
Baze is shocked to discover that he's the alpha of the
pack and teenaged twin Jace has been unconsciously acting
as his beta. The nurturing relationship that evolves
between Baze, Pen, and Jace as the book progresses is
very sweet. It's difficult at times for Pen to relate to
the group of women she's thrust into, since she never
really had female friends or sisters growing up.
Eventually, her new friends grow on Pen and help her
transition to life as Baze's mate. I like that this story
is told from alternating perspectives, giving the reader
insight into the how Baze and Pen are affected by their
reunion.

HEART STOPPING is part action movie and part fairy tale.
For his own diabolical reasons, an evil character
reunites two lovers who were torn apart in their youth.
The majority of time spent together by the reunited
couple, and their pack, is a seemingly impenetrable
fortress in the mountains -- which I keep picturing as a
castle. Danger lurks around every corner, and L.P. Maxa
occasionally injects a little humor and light into the
tense atmosphere. Although this book and series strikes a
much different tone than her contemporary romances, I
enjoyed HEART STOPPING a lot and it held me spellbound.
HEART STOPPING is a tale of true love reclaimed and
warrior werewolves saving the day. As the son of the
villain in HEART STOPPING, and brains behind his ultimate
destruction, Jace is a major character in HEART STOPPING
and I desperately hope L.P. Maxa gives him a book of his
own in the future. Jace has that super smart, sexy,
sweet, enigmatic vibe that makes him entrancing. I look
forward to L.P. Maxa's next romance -- whether it be a
passionate paranormal or rapturous tale of rock stars and
their brood.

SUMMARY

LOVE ETERNAL

Ten years ago Baze Carter fell irrevocably in love and
knew
he'd found his forever only to have her ripped from his
arms, never to be seen again. Broken, and unable to find
her, he made a life for himself as a baseball coach at
St.
Leasing School for Boys. Their secret, hidden for
centuries,
has been in peril for the past year, and now more than
ever,
Baze and his pack need to end the evil that plagues them.

When Penelope Sutton is discovered bruised and battered
lying in the road in front of his home, Baze is elated
and
murderous in equal measure. Anyone who dare harm his long
lost mate will be made to pay, but not before Baze and
Pen
find their way back to each other.